Viewpoints

To the Editor:

The holiday season has begun. It looks and feels different to us all in one way or another. The year 2020 has been more than challenging, with its unrest, instability, fears and losses in varying degrees. This year has mandated that we change many things about the way we live, interact with others, and view our future.

One positive note is that it has shown the compassion of people stepping up and stepping in to help. It has been the cause of prayers and pleas for healing and peace.

While holidays typically bring people closer together, this can be a difficult time for children involved in the child welfare system who are not able to spend this time with their biological families. They do not have the opportunity to be a part of creating precious memories that many of us hold dear.

To the Editor:

Now is the time to affirm that, as law abiding citizens of the United States of America, we do subscribe to and submit to the basic tenets of truth, justice, and our Constitutional freedoms.

Metamorphosis of A Nation

Hello Friends! One of the great marvels of creation is the process of metamorphosis, that being the caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly.  This process can be compared to when a person asks Jesus Christ to come into his or her life as their Lord and Savior and the resulting transformation in that person’s life from that decision.  For the followers of Jesus Christ, this is called being born-again.

Well, today I’d like to share about another metamorphosis - one that takes place in a nation. Remember, metamorphosis is the process of changing form or shape, structure or substance. In the book of Isaiah chapter 5 verse 20 we read, “woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.”

To the Editor:

As all the doctors said in their opening statements in their letters to save lives and “our” greatest fight against COVID-19.

We just have to show a little respect for others and ourselves. We put stop signs at our street intersections to keep us and others from colliding with others. We put signs up: No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service. I have to wear a seatbelt while driving. I cannot be under the influence of alcohol while driving. I cannot come into your place of business and light up a smoke. When I go onto a construction site I have to have safety glasses and a hard hat. When the pig producers go into their facility they have to shower and suit up and wash their clothes afterwards.

If we do this much for hogs, can’t we at least do this for our fellow human beings?

To the Editor:

It’s been quite some time since I wrote a letter to the newspaper. At 94 years old, I don’t write very well. It’s difficult to hold the pen, so here it goes.

I had the privilege of attending the Waukon semifinals football game at the UNI-Dome and it was exciting. Friday, November 20, I watched the game live on tv and I watched other reruns and would watch it again. What a great group of players on both sides. If a player was on the ground, both teams offered a hand in helping them up - great spirit.

I know that most of our players are Christian, and maybe all. I’m sure they know that their great playing ability and talent is given by God but they have to put it to work. They know that Sunday morning belongs to God and their church and that attending church regularly is a must. If they attend church and encourage others to attend, the rest of their lives will be very successful.

Thanksgiving: A Great and God-pleasing Good Work

Thanksgiving is not an official church holiday like Christmas or Easter. But yet it is a spiritual holiday. After all, who are we thanking? Thanksgiving is not an official church holiday but maybe we should make it a church holiday? We could call it “good works day” since all good works are nothing more than a “thank offering” to God.

Good works are more about who you are than what you do. They are character qualities that come from the heart. St. Paul gives us a good definition of good works when he writes: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22, 23). And a thankful heart is the motivation behind all these fruits.

To the Editor:

Yesterday, I received an email from my brother’s daughter, Holly. It is about her father, Gerald.

I believe that her sentiments express those of so many children of parents who have served our country in uniform. I thought of how happy Gerald would be if he could read what Holly has written about him here. Regrettably, she can’t tell him now; he and Holly’s mother were killed in a car accident several years ago.

The reason I am submitting this in The Standard is that I’m hoping that maybe someone will read this and consider telling a parent how much you appreciate that he or she served our country. If you do, you’ll probably be surprised to learn that they didn’t even think you had noticed.

Here’s part of what Holly wrote:

To the Editor:
On behalf of the Allamakee Democrats, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the election officials who worked together for a fair, safe and smooth election in Allamakee County. This includes the poll workers, many of whom were poll workers for the first time, as well as the experienced poll workers.

These individuals from different communities and different political parties trained together, worked together, put in long hours at the polls and helped make it possible for voters to vote on Election Day.

This year, poll workers had the worries of the coronavirus, yet they gave of themselves and their time.

Voting started long before Election Day. Many voters voted early by mail or in-person at the Auditor’s Office. The staff in the Auditor’s Office increased the ease of voting early. Auditor Denise Beyer commissioned an Auditor’s Drop Box outside the courthouse for safety and convenience. What a tremendous asset.

To the Editor:

I appreciate my fellow Americans voting Joe Biden into office for the next four years as the president of this great country. America will be great again.

When I go to bed at night, I can rest knowing my Social Security, my healthcare, my 401K, etc. will stay intact.

Knowing November 11 was Veterans Day, I would also like to wish all Veterans a happy day, as I am proud to have been one myself.

Paul R. Melsha
Harpers Ferry
 

To the Editor:

With all of the turmoil and unrest in the world today, I wanted to take a moment and recognize an excellent teacher and community member who is making a very positive impact in our school and community, Ms. Sarah Bieber.

As many of you have most likely noticed, anytime there is a community event, whether it be a parade, trunk-or-treat,  community visits, or singing at holiday events, she is there with her students adding to the event and teaching the kids how important it is for them to be involved with positive things in the community.